UConn's Paige Bueckers becomes first NIL athlete with Nike Player Edition basketball shoe

Paige Bueckers is making history as the first NIL athlete to design and launch a Nike Player Edition basketball sneaker, according to the company.

NIL stands for name, image and likeness and it allows student-athletes to market themselves for profit.

The UConn basketball star is launching the Nike G.T. Hustle 3 Paige Bueckers Player Edition.

“It’s definitely motivating to wear your own shoe,” Bueckers said in a statement. “I grew up wearing Nikes — all the signature shoes — so it’s surreal to have this Player Edition model. I just want to show out in it.”

The sneaker features Bueckers’ favorite colors, baby blue and lavender.

It has other personalized details as well, including intersecting 860 and 612 -- the area codes for the University of Connecticut and Bueckers’ hometown in Minnesota -- on the left tongue, according to Nike.

Nike said there is an embroidered bucket on the right tongue.

In a play on her last name, “buckets” replaces “Bueckers” on the right heel.

While the left heel has a text bubble with “Be You, Be Great.” That’s an inspirational message Bueckers gets from her dad before every game, according to Nike.

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“There are so many details that make this shoe special to me,” Bueckers said. “This is the perfect colorway for me: I love baby blue and lavender, and the Radial Knit (upper) makes me feel fly. My favorite detail is the message from my dad, and the tribute to both of my homes is so meaningful for my first Player Edition model.”

My favorite detail is the message from my dad, and the tribute to both of my homes is so meaningful for my first Player Edition model.

Paige Bueckers

Several UConn students said they are excited for Bueckers and like the shoe.

“I like the blue. I like the design. I think it’s bright. It pops and it looks like a basketball shoe,” Amanuel Melku, a UConn freshman, said.

“When I was growing up, like only LeBron had a shoe, Kobe had a shoe. So, it’s cool to see like Paige up like in that status,” Ryan Blood, a UConn senior, said.

Others said Bueckers and other student-athletes work hard and deserve the recognition.

“She’s a very hardworking player, kind of the face of college women’s basketball. So, I think she deserves it more than anybody.” Zamiyah Burton, a UConn sophomore, said.

“They’re putting in the hard work, day in and day out, and they deserve to be able to make a little money off of the things that they bring to the school, the community, and all that stuff,” Trevon Francis, a UConn senior from Washington, D.C., said.

The Nike G.T. Hustle 3 Paige Bueckers Player Edition will be available on Dec. 7 on SNKRS and at some retail locations.